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City Islanders anxious to get back to work Wednesday night in suburban Baltimore

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Jason Pelletier, shown last season, will lead the Harrisburg City Islanders into their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game Wednesday night against the PDL's Baltimore Bohemians.
(Jessica Tezak, PennLive.com)

Although the Harrisburg City Islanders may have enjoyed the brief respite that accompanied an atypical break in their league schedule, the anxious USL PRO club with the modest winning streak is ready to get back to work.

And next up for Bill Becher's City Islanders (3-4-1 overall, 2-4-1 in league play) is a Wednesday date with the Premier Development League's Baltimore Bohemians in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. at Calvert Hall High School in Towson, Md.

"It's been awhile since we played, but I think in our last two games we were much better offensively — so we want to carry that into this game," said Becher, whose club has won its last two outings when considering all competitions.

"We have to make sure we defend a little better than we did in the Dayton game, but this is an opportunity, in the Open Cup, to get an opportunity to play an MLS team. The Baltimore team is going to be very good. Last year it was a PDL team [Reading United A.C.] that knocked us out," Becher continued.

"PDL teams have had great success in this tournament, so we need to go there prepared to play against a good team. Hopefully we can do enough to get the result."

While the City Islanders began Open Cup play on May 14 with a 4-0 victory over amateur side F.C. Lehigh Valley United Sonic, they have not played since defeating USL PRO playmate Dayton 5-3 on May 17 at Skyline Sports Complex.

For the City Islanders, that means shrugging off a two-week break and recapturing the momentum they gathered during their recent victories.

Particularly at the offensive end.

With his Harrisburg City Islanders readying to play for the first time in 11 days, head coach Bill Becher is wary of the PDL's Baltimore Bohemians, his club's upcoming opponent in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.PennLive.com files

"Like I said before, it's tough when you do good two games in a row and you're on a winning streak and then you have to sit out and wait to play," veteran midfielder Jason Pelletier said following Tuesday's workout at Central Dauphin Middle School's Landis Field.

"It's good that we have a game that we can [use to] kind of get back into [league play]. But it's do or die. It's not just another game. It's a chance for us to play an MLS team. I think everybody wants to do that."

Should the City Islanders prevail Wednesday night and oust Baltimore (1-2-1 overall, 0-2-1 in league play), they'll advance to the Open Cup's fourth round and meet the Philadelphia Union on June 17 at PPL Park in Chester.

Baltimore, which is skippered by former D.C. United standout Santino Quaranta, earned its spot in the Open Cup's third round by defeating amateur side Icon F.C. 4-1. Mamadou Kansaye, former Mechanicsburg High School star Austin Martz, Brandon Allen and Brian Graham pocketed finishes for the Bohs, who played the final 48-plus minutes with a man advantage.

Baltimore, which also has former Hempfield High School netminder Billy Heavner on its roster, was leading 2-0 when Icon's Jerrod Laventure was sent off.

"For them, it's a huge game," Becher said. "We saw that with the Reading team last year; we saw it with Reading the three times we played them. We saw it with Long Island when we played them. We've had some very competitive games with these teams, just, as I've said before, as we have done that with the MLS teams.

"We've beaten them [the City Islanders are 4-4-1 against MLS clubs in Open Cup play] and we've given them matches every time. They're gonna come and fight and do everything they can to win the game."

Pelletier agrees.

"When they get a chance to play against professional teams, that's what they really [get excited about]," Pelletier said.

Clesio Bauque was productive in each of the Harrisburg City Islanders' last two outings, totaling three goals and an assist in a pair of victories.PennLive.com files

"We're hoping to build on what we've done the last two games," Becher said. "We know we still have to get better, but we're pretty happy with those performances. If we can build on that, we think we give ourselves a good chance."

The 35-year-old Hotchkin, who has undergone several surgical procedures since being struck three times during the shooting, is part of the Invica Sports broadcast team that works City Islanders games. Hotchkin serves as the color analyst, working alongside play-by-play man Chad Edwards.

Hotchkin played two seasons for the City Islanders (2010-11). He also played one season (2012-13) for the Harrisburg Heat of the Major Arena Soccer League.

The 26-year-old Zebley pleaded guilty in March in exchange for prosecutors dropping a count of attempted murder to two counts each of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Molino's three-bagger raised his finish total to eight, the most in USL PRO thus far. His efforts also enabled Orlando, which is headed for Major League Soccer next year, remain unbeaten (8-0-3) and stay atop the league standings.

Since the City Islanders did not play last week, none of Becher's players were candidates for league-wide recognition. Chandler Hoffman of L.A. Galaxy II and Conor Shanosky of Richmond, both of whom played games on loan with the City Islanders several seasons back, joined Molino on the team of the week.

No one with ties to the City Islanders landed among the honorable mentions.